Round 6: Mark Zajdner vs. Tuomo Nieminen

Brian David-Marshall

Mark Zajdner is an up and coming player from Canada. Mark is a Pro Tour cut-up and he is better known for his off the field antics than his play right now but players who know him are waiting for his bust out performance. He is sitting on a 5-0 record playing Red-White Slide with Burning Wish.

His opponent is the taciturn member of the Finnish National team Tuomo Nieminen playing Mirari's Wake. He is also 5-0 and the match-up was apparently lopsidedly in the Finn's favor. Mark Zajdner was shouting across the feature match area to a friend. "I can win...but it's ugly. I am going to get smoked. Couldn't I play anyone else? My opponent is playing Wake...at least I think he is. I'm pretty sure I saw him playing Wake."

Tuomo bought turn after turn with Moment's Peace cast from his hand. Mark made seven soldiers EOT and hoped for the best. After a Moment's Peace was flashed back Mark tried to count how many were played from his hand, "Can I see your graveyard? Yup, more where that came from." He played another Eternal Dragon.

Game 2

"Why couldn't I have gotten paired up against one of those decks?" When a spectator pointed out that both the decks at the next table were also Wake he gestured to the other tables. "How about them?"

After a little while Mark realized he was the only person in the feature match that could be heard. He turned to Tuomo and barked, "You don't talk much?"

Tuomo: "No."

In addition to being noisy, Mark is also a bundle of nervous energy. "Let me check my sideboard and make sure it's 15 cards."

Tuomo agreed that it was good idea and reached for his own, "I will do the same."

Mark frowned, "Oh, I reminded you."

Tuomo doesn't say much but when he does... "Actually I have already done it a thousand times; it is the only way I can lose this match."

Zajdner kept his openers but when Tuomo wavered Mark prodded him. "You like what you see? So-so?" After some debate he mulliganed and kept his next six cards.

Zajdner played an Astral Slide and a few turns later made three tokens with a Decree. When his opponent cast Wrath of God, Zajdner—never one to miss a gag--cycled a Dragon and removed a token from the game with his Slide. He cycled a Steppe EOT as well.

He returned the Dragon and had enough mana to follow up with another Astral Slide. After Tuomo played a Mirari's Wake Mark played a Dragon which was Mana Leaked He played a land and a morph and laughed, "I didn't really want that one anyway."

Mark got in a pair of attacks with the Angel and Tuomo Cunning Wished for Ray of Revelation. With the Slides dealt with he was able to cast Wrath of God. The game was more or less over at this point—mark was out of gas and Tuomo had full control. "I would have conceded if this wasn't a feature match...

"What the hell, I'll concede anyway." Tuomo showed him a handful of counter magic and a Decree.

Final Result: Mark – 0 Tuomo – 2

Brian David-Marshall has been involved in Magic since 1994 when he was violently shaken by someone searching for the game. He has organized tournaments, run a store, and is currently the Pro Tour Historian. His latest venture is Top8Magic.com, the publishing house that is releasing Michael J. Flores: Deckade.